Anyone Working in Medical Clinics?

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I'm working as a tech at an optometrist (my dad), and I was wondering if anyone else with AS works in similar places and can attest to feeling completely panicked around patients. You see, in the South, people are touchy-feely and able to small talk to walls. Being an aspie, I have issues understanding the point of the "How are you?" "How are the kids?" schtick when I don't know the people. I have what I call "The Circle" which are people I feel okay speaking to, and these patients aren't on the circle. I have had near panic attacks from working with people and I just dunno.

I used to work as a medical assistant back in 1983. I found I didn't have a warm enough personality to be able to make the patients feel calm and at ease. Also, some of the radiologists were downright bullies and I was often in tears. I didn't last long in the healthcare field!